Most people have heard about it, but many people do not know what Defense Base Act insurance does. It mainly covers civilian employees who work in foreign countries which support the military. It applies to everyone who works for them, regardless of what their nationality is. What is the definition of this law? Suppose some federal contractors are employing workers in military bases outside the United States on foreign contracts. In that case, they can be subject to this law.
If you are on the job, and if you get any injuries while working, contractors must ensure you with compensation that meets the laws of the Defense Base Act. Many companies deal with laws such as these, and they must be approved to work with them. Even contractors can ask a company to insure themselves.
If you are a business owner and work with the government, not meeting the mandatories, this law requires may be severe and punishable. If you want to read more about this, click on the following link for more information dol.gov/agencies/owcp/dlhwc/ExplainingDBA
What is the definition of this law?
It is a compensation system for federal workers. It actually protects contractors or subcontractors who are working overseas in a military base owned by the United States government. Suppose a contractor is injured, or in the worst-case scenario, killed. In that case, they will be compensated and entitled to financial benefits.
What is covered with it?
Even if you are not American, you should not be worried because everyone working under these contracts will be protected and entitled to benefits. This law covers many jobs available in the military, such as firefighters, electricians, food service workers, flight attendants, interpreters, linguists, etc.
This is only an example of which jobs are covered with it, but in truth, there are many more which are available in any military base.
What kind of injuries does it cover?
The contractors are of great importance to the military and the work they do there. Why is that? This is because of the simple fact that they are performing their work in a lot of military stations, which can be airports, outposts, red zones, etc. What this means is that every contractor could be injured in any work they are stationed in.
Some of the few injuries which are covered by this law that can occur in a workplace are amputations, asbestosis, back injuries, breathing problems, broken bones, burns, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chemical exposures, chest pains, arm injuries, asthma, depression, dermatitis, electrocution, head injuries, eye problems, lead poisoning, neck injuries, hip injuries, PTSD, etc.
These are just a few covered, and there are many more because dangerous things can happen in environments in a war zone. If you want to read more about which other injuries are covered, click for more on this link.
Should you hire an attorney?
Could you do it by yourself? Yes, of course. But it is always a great idea to hire a professional to do the work for you as they have studied the law for many years. Doing it alone means that you need to research many things and spend a lot of time understanding the law by itself. Hiring a professional is always a win for you because they practice it for many years and know what they need to do.
You should always look for companies with experienced lawyers who understand your needs and will do anything to help you out. It is of great importance to hire people capable of listening to your problems, analyzing them, and then building a good case around them to be beneficial to you. Understanding the defense base act law alone is complicated enough, and all your worries will be put to a stop when you decide to go for an attorney who does all the work for you and makes sure for you to get a beneficial outcome.
If you do not have the funds for an attorney, many options allow you to pay them after the outcome, and if not, it is always best to have some money on the side in cases like these. And as always, stay safe.
